Displaced workers offered assistance
The 312 former Anchor Glass Corp. employees are being encouraged to take control of their lives at a time when it seems as if everything is out of control. The workers learned Nov. 4 that the glassmaker was closing permanently and immediately. Now they are receiving assistance from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s Dislocated Worker Program and related state agencies.
Dan Heitsenrether, the regional representative for the Dislocated Worker Program, told the employees during an information session at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, Monday that while the layoff was out of their control, they are in control from this point on.
“You do have control over the choices you have to make,” Heitsenrether said.
Heitsenrether encouraged the displaced workers to take advantage of every program available to them, from resume and job-hunting services provided by the state to health insurance programs and mental health programs. He also encouraged the former glass plant employees to acknowledge the anger, stress and confusion that can accompany job loss.
“It’s important to talk about it. We’re human. We have these emotions. The problem is getting stuck in these emotions,” Heisenrether said. “We put together a dislocated worker transition team. If anyone would be interested in putting a team together, see me after the session,” Heisenrether said.
Matt Fisher of Chestnut Ridge counseling services noted that his agency is available to the displaced workers, through a hotline, drop-in service or scheduled counseling sessions.
“If you see yourself having a lot of problems with this and need to talk to someone outside your family, we’re available,” Fisher said. “Anybody going through this type of situation can find themselves needing someone to talk to.”
All of the Pennsylvania CareerLink offices are available to the former Anchor employees. Betty Schmidt, the Uniontown CareerLink program supervisor, said that while basic services are the same at each site, there are different training programs at each location.
“Some of you might be interested in training, others may just want a job. Some may just want something to get you through to retirement,” Schmidt said. “We’ve got calls from some employers that might be interested in you. We’ve have calls from Washington County and surrounding counties.”
Many of the Anchor employees had been with the company for 15 years or more.
“I would guess that the majority of you do not have a resume, don’t know how to do a cover letter and don’t have a secretary to type it for you. We can do it for you,” said Janice Albright, of the Westmoreland County CareerLink located at Westmoreland County Community College.
Albright said the CareerLinks can help with skills assessment, helping long-time employees determine the specific skills they have developed over the years that may be marketable to another employer.
“When you try to stay at home and do it all yourself, you miss out on a lot of those extras,” Albright said. “If you don’t have skills that are marketable to another employer, we’ll help you get them. We have a number of assessments we can put you through. They aren’t pass or fail tests. They help you determine what you’re good at and we can find schools that can help you.”
Albright said basic computer training is available through the CareerLink offices and refresher courses in basic math and English are available to help people prepare for tests potential employers may give.
Schmidt emphasized that there is no one solution that will fit all 312 displaced workers.
“Everyone is in a different boat here. Keep that in mind,” Schmidt said.
Anne Caster, with the Pittsburgh Unemployment Compensation Service Center, outlined the process for filing an unemployment claim, noting that filing a claim is just the first step. Caster emphasized the need to follow the regulations for unemployment in order to continue to receive benefits.
“Every two weeks you are required to certify your eligibility by answering a series of questions. We do not have local offices in the state any longer. We do everything by telephone or the Internet,” Caster said.
Internet access is available at the CareerLink offices.
Caster said the unemployment claim amount will be different for each person, based on the best quarter from the four quarters ending in July 2004. The maximum entitlement is 26 weeks of full unemployment in a year. Caster said the 26 weeks can be extended by taking only partial unemployment or supplementing it with part-time employment, though the total dollar amount of the unemployment benefit will not increase.
“You can expect about half of what you normally grossed,” Caster said. “You can earn up to 40 percent of the weekly benefit rate and still get your full weekly benefit check.”
Caster warned the displaced workers about supplementing their unemployment benefits through self-employment, since people who are self-employed are not entitled to unemployment benefits.
“We do have a self-employment assistance program. You can still get unemployment if you are involved in that program, otherwise you could lose all your unemployment benefits,” Caster said.
Patricia Kimbrough, an outreach specialist with the Western Pennsylvania Caring Foundation provided information about insurance for children through the CHIPS program and for uninsured adults through the Adult Basic insurance program.
Kimbrough said that the CHIPS program is a comprehensive insurance program including hospitalization, prescriptions, doctor visits, eye care and dental.
The Adult Basic program is more limited and there is currently a 100,000-person waiting list for the program at $30 a month. Kimbrough said that those who qualify for the program can pay the full cost of $264 a month.
Kimbrough said the insurance can be purchased two months at a time to help cover the cost of things such as anticipated surgery.
Former 18-year Anchor employee Brian Reese attended the information session with his wife Lisa, who was a bit disappointed in the medical benefits available.
“It doesn’t cover prescriptions at all. I take nine of them,” Lisa Reese said.
Donna Fosbrink, who worked for Anchor for almost 15 years, was pleased to hear there was insurance available once the insurance through Anchor ends.
“I was worried about having insurance. This at least gives us an avenue to look into for insurance,” Fosbrink said.
Fosbrink was skeptical of some of the job opportunities mentioned during the program that pay $8-10/hour, about half of what many of the workers were earning at Anchor, Fosbrink said.
“Why would be drive two counties to make minimum wage? I’ll look for something closer,” Fosbrink said.
Bonnie Cross, who worked at Anchor for 35 years, said she still has a lot of questions about her future.
“I’m one of the older ones and I have a lot of medical problems. I have cancer, and now I have heart problems. I’m thinking I just want my pension and maybe get a part-time job,” Cross said.
Rita Waltz had also been at Anchor for 35 years.
“It’s tough. You’re at an age where you’re almost too old to go into another field and too young to retire,” Waltz said.
Additional information sessions are being scheduled for the displaced employees. A career training day will be held on Monday, Nov. 22, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the South Connellsville Volunteer Fire Hall club room. All State Career School, West Virginia Career Institute, Laurel Business Institute, Douglas Education Center and Westmoreland County Community College Tractor-trailer Driver Training will be represented at the session.
The displaced workers were cautioned Monday to check into placement records for training programs they may be considering, including the location of jobs graduates have been placed in and the salary range they can expect. They were also told to look at benefits packages as well as salary offerings, since a lower pay could be offset by better benefits.
An informational meeting regarding retirement benefit options will be held at the South Connellsville Fire Hall Thursday, Dec. 2, at 6 p.m.
An outplacement firm hired by anchor will hold two-day informational sessions for the workers from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Dec. 1 and 2, Dec. 3 and 6, Dec. 7 and 8, Dec. 9 and 10 and Dec. 14 and 15. Those sessions will also be held at the South Connellsville Fire Hall.
“Whatever they are going to offer, take it. Go for it. You deserve it,” Heitsenrether told the former Anchor employees.